Sheriff Daniel Edwards said his department has been investigating the kidnapping and sexual assault of two women, one on Aug. 11 and the other on Sept. 20. In both cases, Edwards said Carruth claimed to be a narcotics agent and "arrested" the women with handcuffs. Investigators said Carruth would then take the women somewhere in the parish where they were forced to perform sex acts before they were released.

Deputies said the victims both identified Carruth as the attacker. Detectives then got an arrest warrant and took him into custody.

In their initial press release, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's office did not list Carruth as a police officer. After further follow-up questions, they disclosed that he was working as an Amite City Police officer at the time of the crimes.

Amite City Police said Carruth was suspended without pay on Tuesday. He has worked at the department for two years, according to the police chief.

The sheriff asked anyone with further information about the investigation to contact Detective Mike Moore at (985) 345-6150 or Detective Dale Athmann at (985) 634-9181.